THE US Census Bureau has a 220-year record of not abusing the public trust. So why go after the agency now, as the recent House appropriations bill does?
The bill, which passed the Republican-controlled House in May, strikes the Census Bureau in two ways. It provides only $625 million for “periodic censuses and programs,” such as the 2012 Economic Census. That’s $86 million less than the White House requested and $64 million less than the Census Bureau had available for such programs last year. More problematically, the bill prohibits the use of any of the money to conduct the American Community Survey, or ACS.
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Hey, 'Nanny,' you answered your own question when you wrote: "This combination reminds me of unfortunate parenting moments, where I've threatened a toothless punishment to encourage better behavior." We don't want the government to be our 'parent.'
Good argument Mr. Glaeser.
The House attitude reminds me of the several execs for whom I did market and competitive research, only to ignore the facts because they didn't like them. And in developing a skilled staff of researchers, we saw case after case of companies that either hurt themselves or went under due to poor decisions for lack of understanding the data about their constituencies. Those who think cutting this work are highly short-sighted and ignorant. And if they're employed they should wonder whether their attitude is hurting their own chances with customers. As for the House and the legislation, there's a wanton disrespect for logic and reason right now with no real leadership. What a surprise they'd make such a stupid move .......
Well Byron, that was a stretch. If you get. A census survey I suggest you check 1 for level of understanding of the English language.
Who knows what paranoid nonsense is running through the minds of some. They sit at home and let every marketer in the world gather data on them through the internet, at the grocery store, at Wal Mart,but the govt. tries to get some info and it's Big Brother. I know you don't have to shop at the store and you don't have to use the internet. Well you don't have to live here either. Big brother, Oh brother what children.
It is my belief that the GOP has become a party of deliberate ignorance. If it lacks data driven facts the fallacies of it agenda can not be so easily dismissed. There is nothing quite like a fact to get in the way of a good story.
It seems clear why the conservatives wish to eliminate the ACS: "Old tax records provide limited data on the very rich, but otherwise we see our country through a dim lens." They desire the governing picture of America to be the picture of the very rich.
No, but you would like roads and services built in the correct areas instead of bridges to nowhere. This only comes with data. Despite what you may have been told ignorance is not bliss.